Device for orthodontic interventions

ABSTRACT

A direct view rigid video-endoscope ( 11 ) supported by an articulated and compensated arm ( 2 ), equipped with a grip ( 3 ) crossed by an air flow ( 92 ) originating from a generator ( 93 ) upstream of the device. The air flow ( 92 ) comes out of small holes ( 8 ) made in the distal end ( 28 ) of the grip ( 3 ), at the base of an optical tube ( 10 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to dentistry and in particular toorthodontic intervention tools in which the main element consists of adirect view rigid video-endoscope installed on an articulated andcompensated arm. Such a device is intended mainly but not exclusivelyfor orthodontic interventions, and allows the dental surgeon to workunder control using a video screen and carries out the functions of anintra-oral and extra-oral video camera, of a directable lighted mirror,of a transilluminator, of a negatoscope, of a saliva-removing pump, andin some cases advantageously replaces the polymerizing lamp and theshadow-free operating lamp.

(2) Description of Related Art

With video cameras for the oral cavity of the prior art the greatestdifficulties for the dental surgeon who works with the video-screencontrol derive, on the one hand from the difficulty in synchronizingone's owns movements with the image on the screen and on the other handthe difficulty in focusing the image itself on the tooth upon which heintervenes.

It must be kept in mind that to work in comfort on a tooth only lookingat the image transmitted on the control video its necessary on the onehand that the image of the tooth on the screen is directed in the sameway as what the dentist usually sees, with or without his hand-heldmirror, in the mouth of the patient, on the other hand that the image ofthe tooth sits in a fixed position on the screen, and only the image ofthe tool moved by the dentist must have the possibility of moving roundthe tooth to end up with the image of the point upon which theintervention must take place.

To get to the point upon which the intervention must take place thedentist must therefore move the image-taking aperture of thevideo-endoscope so that the image of the field of vision on the controlvideo-screen simultaneously comprises the part of tooth to be treatedand the image of the distal end of the work tool which he holds, withoutthe image of the tool blocking that of the point to be reached on thetooth to be treated.

Moreover, the current state of the art does not allow images of thedistal faces of teeth—in other words those furthest from theimage-taking point—to be taken with a direct view rigid video-endoscope,at the base of the oral cavity of the patient, this is not currentlypossible due to the size of rigid video-endoscopes available on themarket. It is therefore necessary to apply to deviated view rigidvideo-endoscopes according to the known art.

On the video-endoscope according to the present invention deviatedvision is obtained with a tube sleeve which completely surrounds theoptical tube and can rotate with respect to it.

When the dental-surgeon manoeuvres a deviated vision video-endoscope tomove the image-taking aperture in order to look for the best imagingangle to work on a tooth, the angle made by the plane of the CCD, theabbreviation commonly used to indicate a charge-coupled device, of thevideo-endoscope with the plane of the field of vision continuallychanges which has the consequence, on the control screen, of modifyingthe addressing of the images of the tooth observed and of making thedentist lose his references, who therefore finds it very difficult toposition the image of the end of his tool on the image of the precisepoint of the tooth which he tries to reach.

Such a change in addressing of the image of the tooth, on the controlscreen, between two positions of the image-taking aperture is the resultof the product of a rotation and of a homotethy, i.e. of a biuniquecorrespondence between segments of superposing planes. Such a homotethyis direct or indirect depending upon the respective relative positionsof the distal end of the tool which the dental surgeon is holding, ofthe tooth having its image taken and of the image-taking aperture of thevideo-endoscope.

It follows from this that, when the dentist who intervenes on a toothusing video control, he moves—from a given working angle—theimage-taking aperture to look for a different angle of view and that ifhe wishes to continue his work in favourable conditions, he mustre-establish the position of the tooth in the direction which itoccupied previously. For this, it is necessary that one makes anopposite displacement, in other words the inverse product of therotation and of the homotethy which modified the position of the imageof the tooth passing from the starting position to the end position ofthe image-taking aperture, to the new image of the tooth which appearson the screen. The device according to the present invention is directedto allow the user to carry out in favourable conditions such a rotationand such a homotethy, direct or inverse, through the combined action ofa micromotor which makes the CCD rotate about its axis and of anelectronic plate which inverts the addressing of the signals at thelevel of the CCD, which has the consequence of inverting the images fromleft to right and from bottom to top. To operate in comfort, moreover,using video control it is necessary that the image-taking aperture isneither misty nor blocked by splashes of water or by solid particlesdeposited in it. The device according to the invention provides asolution to this problem supplying, at the distal end of the endoscope,on the image-taking aperture, a suitable air flow also when the deviatedvision sleeve rotates upon itself.

As outlined above, a further condition must be satisfied to operate infavourable conditions using video control: it is necessary that theimage of the visualised object is in a fixed position on the screen. Thedevice according to the invention provides a solution to this problem byassociating with the video-endoscope an articulated and compensated armupon which said video-endoscope is fastened with a pawl.

On the other hand, in the prior art the dental surgeon must face theeconomic and economic problems posed by the multiplication of toolsaround the dentist's chair, tools which are, nevertheless, indispensablefor carrying out the profession.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is aimed at the purpose of providing a device ofwhich one of the main elements is a rigid deviated visionvideo-endoscope, realized so as on the one hand to allow work usingvideo control and on the other hand allowing the examination of theteeth with the method of transillumination and moreover allowing thedentist to use it as:

-   -   a shadow-free operating lamp for more easily illuminating the        distal zones of the teeth of the patient, reducing the operating        times;    -   as a hand-held mirror without misting;    -   as a negatoscope, i.e. to read radiographs on the control        screen;    -   as a polymerising lamp;    -   as a surgical suction tube, thus improving the ergonomics of the        dental surgery reducing the number of tools around the dentist's        chair where the patient sits, improving the working conditions        of the dentist and reducing the investments and, therefore,        giving to the patient a better quality of care.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention is defined, in its essentialcomponents, in the first claim whereas its variants and preferredembodiments are specified and defined in the dependent claims. From thefollowing description, the device comprises:

-   A—a rigid video-endoscope with a directable image-taking device of    the CCD type, i.e. of the charge-coupled device type, consisting of    an elongated grip with an optical tube. The video-endoscope is    connected to a control screen.-   B—A tube sleeve which rotates about itself without limitation,    capable of sliding on the optical tube and capable of being locked    with a pawl at the distal part with respect to the grip of the    video-endoscope.

This sleeve is

-   -   both deviated by 90° according to a preferential use of the        video endoscope for working using the video, for the examination        of the tooth with the technique of transillumination, or as a        lamp for polymerising the composites in the zones which cannot        be directly accessed.

Directed vision is obtained with a total deviation prism fixed at thedistal end of the sleeve. Moreover, the directed vision sleeve requiresa light source intended to illuminate its field of vision, consisting ofone or more lamps housed in its distal end;

-   -   and direct, in the extension of the optical tube, with a variant        use of the device as an illuminating mirror, as a lamp for        polymerising the composites in a direct access zone, or as a        tool for radiograph examination on a control screen.

-   C—An articulated compensated arm.

-   D—An electronic plate which manages the rotation/inversion of the    images top/bottom and left/right.

The rigid video-endoscope consists of a grip to the end of which isfixed an optical tube coaxial with it. The grip contains a CCD catchercoaxial with the optical tube. It is crossed by an air flow originatingfrom a generator upstream from the device. The air flow leaves the gripfrom small holes made in its distal end, at the base of the opticaltube. The optical tube is realised to provide, on the plane of the CCDcatcher, an image of the object being examined, the imaging beingdirected in the extension of the axis of the video-endoscope.

The deviated vision sleeve carries, fixed to its distal end, a 90°transmission device consisting of a total reflection prism and a lightsource, consisting of one or more lamps housed around the entry face ofthe prism and with axes perpendicular to said face of the purism so asto illuminate the field of vision.

A variant embodiment or the device according to the invention foreseesthat the axes of the lamps make an angle B which is not zero so as toconcentrate their luminous beams on a predetermined point.

The deviated vision sleeve has the characteristic of sliding on theoptical tube and of locking with a pawl to the distal part with respectto the grip of the video-endoscope, remaining free to rotate upon itselfwithout limitation. Moreover, it has the characteristic of having agreater inner diameter than the outer diameter of the optical tube so asto allow an air flow coming out of the air holes, arranged in the distalend of the video-endoscope, to circulate freely in the intersticebetween said two tubes and to leave near to the distal part of saidoptical tube. Moreover, it has the characteristic that the exit face ofthe prism, when the sleeve is locked with the pawl to the grip of thevideo-endoscope, stays parallel to and in contact with the front lens ofthe optical tube, and, moreover, that it carries, fixed on its innerface, a coating of a thickness equal to that of the interstice existingbetween the tube sleeve and the optical tube. This thus allows the twotubes to slide freely, since said coating gasket occupies almost all ofthe circumference of the sleeve and leaves only a small gap in front ofthe entry face of the prism to allow the passage of air at this precisepoint to eliminate misting and sprays which could cover said face of theprism during the dentist's work.

The device carries, at its distal end, moreover, a flat mirror whichforms an angle of 30–60° with the optical tube, the nearest part of themirror being close to the entry face of the prism so that the air flowwhich keeps the entry face of the prism clean also keeps the surface ofthe mirror clean.

On the one hand the mirror is also used to move the cheek during the useof the device according to the invention, to work using video controland on the other hand to reflect the light rays originating from theobject to be seen directly by the operator in the use of the device as ahand-held mirror by the dentist, without the video screen. In this use,the dentist no longer needs the shadow-free operating lamp since he hasa hand-held mirror which does not mist up and which lights up the fieldof vision.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to a preferred embodiment, the plane of the end of the lamp isin front of the entry face of the prism. The power supply wires of thelamp pass into the interstice between optical tube and sleeve, at thebase of which the clamps are arranged, which, by contact, ensure, whenthe sleeve rotates upon itself, the connections between two ringsarranged inside the grip of the video endoscope, which are themselvesconnected to an external electrical energy supply.

The tube sleeve is advantageous for carrying out, in advantageousconditions, a rotation on the control video screen of the image of thefield of vision, keeping the centre of such a rotation at the centre ofthe screen. To carry out such a rotation, the operator, with one hand,keeps the tube sleeve in a fixed position and with the other hand, makesthe body of the rigid video-endoscope rotate.

According to a variant embodiment the flat mirror is replaced with aconcave or convex mirror.

According to a second variant the mirror is fixed to a removable supportwhich locks on the distal wall of the sleeve, in such a way allowing,for hygiene reasons, the mirror to be changed for each patient at areduced cost.

According to another variant of the device, the light source of thedeviated vision sleeve consists of one or more lamps with axes parallelto the axis of the optical tube and which are installed in the distalend of the sleeve and the 90° transmission device consists of a flatmirror associated with a total reflection prism. The deviated visionsleeve of such a variant has the characteristic of carrying, at itsdistal end, a flat mirror on which a total reflection prism is fixed sothat the axis of the exit face of the prism coincides with the axis ofthe optical tube of the video-endoscope and is parallel to and incontact with the front lens of said optical tube. According to a furthervariant embodiment, it has, moreover, the characteristic that the distalend of the lamp(s) is arranged in a plane behind the plane of the frontlens of the optical tube so that an angular transmission mirror, theplane of which forms an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of thetube for reaching the object, and rotating about an axis coinciding withthe axis of the optical tube, can rest upon the edge of the front lensof the optical tube.

Said part of the mirror outside of the prism is used to reflect the raysof light coming from the lamps to illuminate the imaging field and toreflect the rays emitted by the object to be seen directly by theoperator, in the use as a hand held-mirror by the dentist, without usingthe video screen.

The deviated vision sleeve used for the examination of a tooth with themethod of transillumination requires, at its distal end, a totalreflection mirror to allow a 90° deviated vision; it has thecharacteristic that it slides on the optical tube with the possibilityto rotate upon itself and to lock itself in the distal part of the gripof the video-endoscope, that the flow of light that it emits toilluminate the field of vision is emitted by a source consisting of oneor more lamps arranged in the distal end of an articulated arm fixedonto the end of the sleeve; the exit face of the total reflection prismis parallel to the plane of the front lens of the optical tube and comesinto contact with said front lens when it is locked with a pawl in thegrip of the video-endoscope. The small arm is, moreover, realised insuch a way that the flow of light coming out of the lamp(s) is directedtowards the entry face of the prism leaving sufficient space between theoutlet plane of the light rays and the entry face of the prism for thetooth of the patent. In practice, it is essential that the same sleevecan be used to examine all teeth.

For this reason the small arm must have two degrees of rotationassociated with an image inversion so that the transillumination sleevecan be used for any position of the tooth under examination in the oralcavity: upper or lower, left or right dental arch. The device accordingto the invention provides a solution to this problem. In fact, the endpart of the arm consists of a first tube fixed to the distal end of thebody of the sleeve, in the opposite direction to the prism entry, theaxis of said tube coinciding with the optical entry axis of the prism.The first tube extends with a second coaxial tube having thecharacteristic of being capable of rotating upon itself and of beingcurved by 360° so that its distal face is opposite the entry face of theprism leaving, however, sufficient space for a tooth between the twofaces. The second tube is, moreover, characterised in that its distalend carries one or more lamps whose light rays are directed to the entryface of the prism. The feeding lines of such lamps pass inside saidtubes, and therefore inside the sleeve at the base of which they areconnected to the clamps which, by contact, ensure, when the sleeverotates upon itself, the connections to an external electrical energysupply.

According to a preferred embodiment, the video-endoscope is locked witha pawl on a support fixed to the distal end of a compensated articulatedarm which allows it to be kept stably in position when the arm is leftby the operator. The compensated part of the arm is mobile in a verticalplane and, in its distal end, supports a third tube which is free torotate upon itself about a vertical axis, according to a conventionaltechnique, whatever position the compensated part is in.

The part nearest to the compensated part stays in a horizontal planewhereas the distal end has the possibility of moving, in a verticalplane, from bottom to top. The characteristic part of the compensatedarm lies in the fact that it rotates in its right angled distal part andin the fact that it extends in a fourth coaxial cylindrical tube whichis free to rotate upon itself and carrying, at its distal end, aball-bearing the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of said tubeinside which the grip of the video-endoscope becomes locked, the axes ofthe bearing and of the video-endoscope coinciding. The fourth tubecontains, moreover, a small motor, with a transmission axis which isalso coaxial with said tube, which carries at its end a worm screw,which makes the inner part of the ball bearing rotate in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the motor thus taking the video-endoscopewith it which is integral therewith.

The top/bottom and left/right image inversions are managed by adual-control electronic plate: one control for the top/bottom inversionand one control for the left/right inversion. The electronic platecarries out the command for the top/bottom inversion by inversion of theaddressing of the video signals emitted by the CCD catcher; on the otherhand, it carries out the left/right inversion command first bycommanding the small motor installed inside the fourth tube to make ahalf-turn and then carrying out the inversion of the addressing of thevideo signals emitted by the CCD catcher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the particularities and the advantagesof the invention some of its typical embodiments are shown here, asexamples and not for limiting purposes. In particular,

FIG. 1 illustrates the general plan of the device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the direct view rigidvideo-endoscope 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the sleeve 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the direct view rigidvideo-endoscope 1 of a variant with a removable mirror

FIG. 5 illustrates a longitudinal section view of a variant of thedirect view rigid video-endoscope 1 with a mirror coupled with adeviator prism.

FIG. 6 illustrates a longitudinal section of a variant of the rigidvideo-endoscope 1 with transillumination.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of the distal part 122 of thecompensated arm 2 of the video-endoscope.

FIG. 8 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the detail of thesupport 35 of the distal part 122 of the arm 2 of the video-endoscope.

FIG. 9 illustrates a section view of the whole of the embodimentaccording to the detail of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the deviated viewrigid video-endoscope 1.

FIG. 11 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the rigidvideo-endoscope 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the tubesleeve intended to be used as a radiograph reader, arranged about theoptical tube 10.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a longitudinal section view of the rigidvideo-endoscope 1 according to the design of FIG. 6 with the tube sleeveintended to be used as a radiograph reader, arranged around the opticaltube 10.

FIG. 15 shows a detail of the compensating bearing of the arm 2illustrated in FIG. 8.

From FIGS. 1 to 15 the following is noted.

The direct view rigid video-endoscope 1 with the image-taking device foraccumulating signals with the CCD catcher 4 comprises a grip 3 whichextends in an optical tube 10 coaxial with it. The grip 3 also containsthe CCD catcher 4 which is coaxial with the optical tube 10.

The optical tube 10 is realised to provide, on the plane of the catcher4, an image of the object examined 7, for example a tooth. The imagingis directed towards the extension of the axis 5 of the video-endoscope1. The video screen to which the video-endoscope 1 is connected is notshown in the drawings. The video-endoscope 1 has the characteristic thatits grip is crossed by an air flow 92 coming from a generator 93upstream of the device. The air flow 92 leaves the grip via small holes8 made in its distal end 28, at the base of the optical tube 10. In avariant embodiment already quoted above the grip 3 also contains amicromotor to make the CCD catcher 4 rotate about its axis for theinversion of the images.

The mobile sleeve (9) covers the optical tube 10 intended to obtain aview deviated by 90° and to illuminate the field of vision 7, in the useof the device to work in the oral cavity using video control. The innerdiameter of the mobile sleeve (9) is greater than the outer diameter ofthe optical tube (10) so as to allow, in the interstice (130) betweenthe sleeve (9) and the optical tube (10) the circulation of an air flow(92).

The sleeve 9 is coaxial with the optical tube 10 and the 90°transmission device of the sleeve 9 is realised with the totalreflection prism 126 installed at its distal end 125; the axis of theexit face 131 of the prism 126 coinciding with the axis 5 of the opticaltube 10 and the light source 60 consisting of lamps 127 arranged aroundthe entry face 129 of the prism.126, with axes of the lampsperpendicular to said face 129.

The deviated vision tube sleeve 9 is capable of sliding on the opticaltube 10 and of locking with a stop at the distal Part 28 with respect tothe grip 3 of the video-endoscope 1, and is free to rotate upon itselfwithout limitation. Its inner diameter is greater than the outerdiameter of the optical tube 10 so as to allow an air flow 92 coming outof the air holes, arranged in the distal end 28 of the video-endoscope.The exit face 131 of the prism 126 is parallel to and in contact withthe distal face 132 of the front lens 13 of the optical tube 10, and,moreover, the sleeve 9 requires, fixed on its inner face 133, a coating134 of a thickness equal to that of the interstice existing between thetube sleeve 9 and the optical tube 10. This coating only leaves a smallgap 135 opposite the entry face 129 of the prism 126 to allow the airflow 92. The sleeve 9, moreover, carried at its distal end 125 a flatmirror 136, the plane of which—i.e., more generally, its tangentsurface—is perpendicular to the plane formed by the optical entry axis 5of the prism 126 and the optical outlet axis 119 of the prism 126 andwhich forms an angle A between 30 and 60° with said axis 5 of theoptical tube 10. The nearest part 137 of the mirror 136 is close to theentry face 129 of the prism 126 so that the air flow 92, which keeps theentry face 129 of the prism clean, also keeps the surface of the mirror136 clean.

The mirror 136 carries, on its face opposite the reflection one, anattachment system 51 in the part 52, on which the dentist's surgicalsuction tube, also not represented, is removably attached, and of whichthe distal part 53 extends up to the distal part of the mirror 136.

The power supply wires 139 of the lamps 127 are embedded in the gasketor coating 134, at the base of which two clamps 140 are arranged, which,by contact, ensure, when the sleeve 9 rotates upon itself, theconnection between two rings 141 arranged inside the grip 3 of thevideo-endoscope 1, which are themselves connected with an externalelectrical energy supply 94 for feeding the device. The plane 138 of theends of the lamps 127 is further forward than the entry surface of theprism 129. Tis feature allows the encumbrance of the head 90 of thesleeve 9, intended to enter into the mouth of the patient, to bereduced.

The tube sleeve 9 is useful for comfortably carrying out a rotation onthe control video screen of the image of the field of vision, keepingthe centre of such a rotation at the centre of the screen.

To carry out such a rotation, the operator holds the sleeve 9 still withone hand and with the other hand rotates the body of the video-endoscope1.

The mirror 136 is used to move the cheek of the patient and as ahand-held mirror by the dentist: the light rays coming from the objectto be seen directly by the operator without the video screen. As alreadystated, the mirror 136 can be flat, or else concave or convex.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 4, according to a variant themirror 136 is fixed to a removable support 142 which locks on the distalpart 125 of the sleeve 9, thus allowing, for hygiene reasons, the mirrorto be changed after every patient at a lower cost.

According to another variant of the device, shown in FIG. 5, the lightsource 60 of the tube sleeve consists of one or more lamps 19 with axes15 parallel to the axis 5 of the optical tube 10. They are installed inthe distal end 125 of the sleeve 9, which carries a 90° transmissiondevice consisting of a flat mirror 14 which makes an angle of 45° withthe axis 5 of the optical tube 10 upon which a total reflection prism 6is fixed so that the axis 5 of the exit face 11 of the prism 6 coincideswith the axis 15 of the optical tube 10 of the video-endoscope 1 and isparallel to and in contact with the plane 132 of the front lens 13 ofsaid optical tube 10. According to a further variant shown in FIG. 5,the plane 16 of the distal end(s) of the lamp(s) 19 is further back withrespect to the plane 132 of the front lens 13 so that a flat mirror, theplane of which forms an angle of 45° with respect to the axis 5 of theoptical tube 10, can abut onto the edge 98 of the front lens 13 of theoptical tube 10. The function of the staggering of the planes 16 and 132is essential for avoiding that the light rays coming from the lampspenetrate into the optical tube 10 and cause interference reflectionswhich without staggering alter the quality of the image on thevideo-endoscope. According to a further variant shown in FIG. 10, theaxis (axes) 128 of the lamp(s) 127 form an angle less than 90° with theoptical axis 119 of the entry face 129 of the prism 126.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6, as sleeve 9 is used toexamine a tooth with the techniques of transillumination, in other wordsto obtain its images on the control video with illumination from therear. The sleeve 9 slides on the optical tube 10 and rotates freely uponitself and lock itself in the distal part 28 of the grip 3 of thevideo-endoscope 1. It carries, in its distal end 125 a 90° transmissiondevice consisting of a total reflection prism 126 of which the axis ofthe exit face coincides with the axis 5 of the optical tube and saidexit face 25 is parallel to and in contact with the plane 132 of thedistal face of the lens 13 of the optical tube 10. Morever, on itsdistal part 125 is fixed a small arm 23 the nearest part of whichconsists of a tube 29 in a direction opposite to the entry face 26 ofthe prism 126 the axis of the tube 29 coinciding with the optical axis 5of the entry face off the second prism 126 The tube 29 extends with asecond coaxial tube 31, capable of rotating upon itself and curved by360°, so that its distal face 32 is opposite the entry face 129 of theprism 126.

The arm 23, at its distal end 24, carries a light source consisting ofone or more lamps 22, the light flow of which is directed to the entryface 129 of the prism 126 leaving, however, sufficient space for a tooth7 between the two faces.

The power supply wires 33 of such lamps pass inside said tubes 29 and31, and therefore inside the coating 134, at the base of which they areconnected to the clamps 34 which, by contact, ensure, when the sleeve120 rotates upon itself, the connection to two rings 141 attached insidethe grip 3 of the video-endoscope 1 connected to an external electricalenergy supply 94.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 14, a mobile sleeve 107 capable of slidingon the optical tube 10 and intended to examine radiographs on a controlscree, which carries, at its distal end, a rectangular parallelepipedshape chamber 101, centered on the axis of the sleeve of which theopposite face to said distal image-taking end of the video-endoscopeconsist of an emery translucent wall 102 upon which the radiograph sheet103 is fixed in 108

The compensated articulated arm 2 carries, fixed to its distal end, asupport 35—shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 15—upon which the video-endoscope islocked with the pawl. The compensated part 36 of the arm 2 is mobile ina vertical plane and carries, in its distal end 37, a tube 38 which isfree to rotate upon itself about a vertical axis 39 which remainsvertical, whatever the position of the compensated part 36. The nearestpart 40 of the compensated part 36 constantly remains in thee horizontalplane 41, whereas the distal end 37 has the possibility of moving, inits plane, from bottom to top. The tube 38 rotates in its right-angleddistal part 41 and, moreover, extends in a fourth cylindrical tube 42 onthe same axis 43, which is free to rotate upon itself and carrying, atits distal end 44, a ball bearing 45, having the axis 46 perpendicularto the axis of said tube 42, inside of which the grip 3 of thevideo-endoscope 1 locks. The axes 46 and 5 of the bearing and of thevideo-endoscope 1 coincide. The tube 42 contains a small motor 121,having the transmission axis 47 parallel to the axis 43 of the tube 42and carries, at its distal end 48, a worm screw 49, which makes theinner part 50 of the ball bearing 45 rotate in a plane perpendicular tothe axis 47 of the motor 121, taking the video-endoscope 1 with it whichis bound thereto.

An electronic plate 123 arranged in a control box 124, which manages thetop/bottom and left/right inversions of the image, carries two buttons51 for commanding the top/bottom inversion and for commanding theleft/right inversion, respectively. The top/bottom inversion commandoperates the inversion of the addressing of the video signals emitted bythe CCD catcher 4; the left/right inversion command first commands thesmall motor 121 installed inside the tube 42 of the articulated arm 2 tomake a half-turn and then inverts the addressing of the video signalsemitted by the CCD catcher 4.

1. Device for medical use and particularly for use by a dentist of whichthe main element is a direct view rigid video-endoscope (1) supported byan articulated and compensated arm (2), comprising: A—a direct viewrigid video-endoscope (1) having a central optical entry axis (5). asignal-accumulating image-taking device with a CCD catcher (4), saidendoscope (1) further characterized by a grip (3) possessing a proximaland a distal end (28), an optical tube (10), said optical tube extendinginto the distal end (28) of said grip (3), said optical tube furtherbeing coaxial with said grip (3), said optical tube (10) being realizedto provide an image of the object examined (7) on the plane of the CCDcatcher (4), the imaging being directed along the central optical entryaxis (5) of the video-endoscope (1); B—a sleeve (9) which is moveableand covers the optical tube (10) and which allows a 90° deviated view tobe obtained and a field of view to be illuminated, the sleeve (9) beingcoaxial with the optical tube (10), a 90° transmission device of thesleeve (9) being realized with a total reflection prism (126) at itsdistal end (125), the axis of an exit face (131) of the prism (126)coinciding with the axis (5) of the optical tube (10) and a light source(60) consisting of a plurality of lamps (127), said lamps possessing abase portion and a emitter portion and are arranged around an entry face(129) of the prism (126), with axis/es (128) of the lamp/s (127)perpendicular to said entry face (129) of the prism (126); C—the sleeve(9) capable of sliding on the optical tube (10), capable of rotatingfreely upon itself and capable of being locked in a distal end (28) ofthe grip (3) of the video-endoscope (1); D—a mobile sleeve (107) capableof sliding on the optical tube (10) intended for examining radiographson a control screen; E—a compensated articulated arm (2) which carries,fixed at its distal end (122), a support (35) upon which thevideo-endoscope (1) is locked, a compensated part (36) of the arm (2)being mobile in a vertical plane and carrying, in a distal end (37) atube (38) free to rotate upon itself about an axis (39), which remainsvertical whatever the position of the compensated part (36), a portion(40) of the compensated part (36) remaining constantly in the horizontalplane (41) whereas the distal end (37) is able to move vertically; F—anelectronic plate (123) arranged in a command box (124) equipped withcommand buttons (51), characterized in that the device comprises agenerator (93) adapted to provide an air flow (92) to cross the grip (3)of the endoscope, and the distal end (28) of the grip (3) comprises aplurality of small openings (8) arranged annularly between the distalend of said grip and said optical tube at the base of the optical tube(10) for dispensing the air flow (92).
 2. Device according to claim 1,characterized in that the sleeve (9) slides on the optical tube (10), isfree to rotate upon itself without limitation and locks with a stop tothe distal end (28) of the grip (3) of the video-endoscope (1); that itsinner diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the optical tube(10) so as to allow, in the interstice (130) between the sleeve (9) andthe optical tube (10) the circulation of an air flow (92); that the exitface (131) of the prism (126) is parallel to and in contact with thedistal face (132) of a front lens (13) of the optical tube (10); thatthe sleeve (9) carries, fixed on its inner wall (133), a coating (134)which covers almost the whole of a inner wall (133) of the sleeve (9),leaving only a small passage (135) arranged at the distal end of thecoating (134), opposite the entry face (129) of the prism (126) to allowthe air flow (92); that the sleeve (9) carries, at its distal end (125),a mirror (136) the tangent surface of which is perpendicular to theplane formed by the central optical entry axis (5) of the optical tube(10) and an optical outlet axis (119) of the prism (126) and which formsand angle A between 30° and 60° with the central optical entry axis (5)of the optical tube (10); the mirror (136) carries, on a opposite faceto a reflecting one, an attachment system consisting of a tube (51) andthe distal part (53) of which extends up to the distal part (118) of themirror (136); a pair of power supply wires (139) connected to the baseportion of the lamps (127) are sunk in a gasket or coating (134), at thebase of which two clamps (140) are arranged which, by contact, ensure,when the sleeve (9) rotates upon itself, the connection between tworings (141) arranged inside the grip (3) of the video-endoscope (1). 3.Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a plane (138)marking the end of the emitter portion of the lamps (127) is furtherforward than the entry face (129)of the prism (126).
 4. Device accordingto claim 2, characterized in that the mirror (136) is a concave orconvex mirror.
 5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that themirror (136) is fixed to a removable support (142) which locks on thedistal part (125) of the sleeve (9).
 6. Device according to claim 1,characterized in that with a second sleeve (9) carries, in its distalend (125), a 90° transmission device consisting of a total reflectionprism (126) of which the axis of the exit face (25) coincides with theaxis (5) of the optical tube (10) and said exit face (25) is parallel toand in contact with the place (132) of the distal face of the lens (13)of the optical tube (10); that the second sleeve (9) has, moreover, asmall arm (23) fixed on its distal part (125), the nearest part of whichconsists of a tube (29) in a direction opposite to the entry face (129)of the prism (126), the axis of the tube (29) coinciding with theoptical axis (5) of the entry face (26) of the prism (126); that thetube (29) extends with a second coaxial tube (31), capable of rotatingupon itself and curved by 360°, so that its distal face (32) is oppositethe entry face (26) of the prism (20); that the arm (23) carries, at itsdistal end (24), a light source consisting of one or more lamps (22),the light flow of which is directed to the entry face (129) if the prism(126) leaving sufficient space for the tooth (7) of the patient betweenthe two faces.
 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that themobile sleeve (107) carries, at its distal end, a rectangularparallelepiped shape chamber, centered on the axis (5) of the sleeve; ofwhich the opposite face to said distal image-taking end of thevideo-endoscope consists of an emery translucent wall upon which theradiograph sheet is fixed.
 8. Device according to claim 1, characterizedin that the tube (38) rotates in its right-angled distal part (41); thatthe distal part (41) extends in a fourth cylindrical tube (42) of thesame axis (43), free to rotate upon itself; that at the distal end (44)of the tube (42) a ball bearing (45) is fixed, having an axis (46)perpendicular to the axis of said tube (42), inside of which locks thegrip (3) of the video-endoscope (1), the axis (46) and (5) respectively,of the bearing and of the video-endoscope (1) coinciding; that the tube(42) contains a small motor (121), which has its transmission axis (47)parallel to the axis (43) of the tube (42) and which carries, at itsdistal end (48), a wormscrew (49), which makes the inner part (50) ofthe ball bearing (45) rotate in a plane perpendicular to the axis (47)of the motor (121), pulling the video-endoscope (1) which it is boundthereto.
 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that theelectronic plate (123) operates the inversion of the addressing of thevideo signals emitted by the CCD catcher (4) when one of the two buttons(51) of the command box (124) is pressed and when the second commandbutton of the command box (124) is pressed it gives the first order tothe small motor (121) installed inside the tube (42) of the articulatedarm (2) to make a half-turn, and at the same time inverts the addressingof the video signal emitted by the CCD catcher (4).
 10. Device accordingto claims 1, 2 or 8, characterized in that the grip (3) also contains amicromotor to make CCD catcher (4) rotate about its axis.
 11. Device formedical use and particularly for use by a dentist of which the mainelement is a direct view rigid video-endoscope (1) supported by anarticulated and compensated arm (2), comprising: A—a direct view rigidvideo-endoscope (1) having with a signal-accumulating image-takingdevice with a CCD catcher (4), consisting of a grip (3), an optical tube(10), said optical tube extending into said grip (3), said optical tubefurther being coaxial with said grip (3), said optical tube (10) beingrealized to provide an image of the object examined (7) on the plane ofthe CCD catcher (4), the imaging being directed along a central axis (5)of the video-endoscope (1); B—a sleeve (9) which is moveable and coversthe optical tube (10) and which allows a 90° deviated view to beobtained and a field of view to be illuminated, the sleeve (9) beingcoaxial with the optical tube (10), a 90° transmission device of thesleeve (9) being realized with a total reflection prism (126) at itsdistal end (125), the axis of an exit face (131) of the prism (126)coinciding with the axis (5) of the optical tube (10) C—the sleeve (9)being capable of sliding on the optical tube (10), capable of rotatingfreely upon itself and capable of being locked in a distal part (28) ofthe grip (3) of the video-endoscope (1); D—a mobile sleeve(107) capableof sliding on the optical tube (10) intended for examining radiographson a control screen; E—a compensated articulated arm (2) which carries,fixed at its distal end (122), a support (35) upon which thevideo-endoscope (1) is locked, a compensated part (36) of the arm (2)being mobile in a vertical plane and carrying, in a distal end (37) atube (38) free to rotate upon itself about an axis (39), which remainsvertical whatever the position of the compensated part (36), a portion(40) of the compensated part (36) remaining constantly in the horizontalplane (41) whereas the distal end (37) is able to move vertically; F—anelectronic plate (123) arranged in a command box (124) equipped withcommand buttons (51), characterized in that the device comprises agenerator (93) adapted to provide an air flow (92) to cross the grip (3)of the endoscope, and the distal end (28) of the grip (3) comprises aplurality of small openings (8) arranged annularly between the distalend of said grip and said optical tube at the base of the optical tube(10) for dispensing the air flow (92) and in that a light source (60) ofthe sleeve (9) consists of one or more lamps (19) with axes (105)parallel to the axis (5) of the optical tube (10), being installed inthe distal end (125) of the sleeve (9); that the sleeve (9) carries aflat mirror (14) which makes an angle of 45° with the axis (5) of theoptical tube (10) upon which a total reflection prism (126) is fixed sothat the axis (5) of the exit face (11) of the prism (126) coincideswith the axis (5) of the optical tube (10) of the video-endoscope (1)and is parallel to and in contact with the plane (132) of the front lens(13) of said optical tube (10); that the plane (16) of the distal end/sof the lamp/s (19) is further back with respect to the plane (132) ofthe front lens (13) so that a flat mirror, the plane of which forms anangle 45° with respect to the axis (5) if the optical tube (10), canabut onto the edge (98) of the front lens (13) of the optical tube (10).12. Device for medical use and particularly for use by a dentist ofwhich the main element is a direct view rigid video-endoscope (1)supported by an articulated and compensated arm (2), comprising: A—adirect view rigid video-endoscope (1) having a signal-accumulatingimage-taking device with a CCD catcher (4), consisting of a grip (3), anoptical tube (10), said optical tube extending into said grip (3), saidoptical tube further being coaxial with said grip (3), said optical tube(10) being realized to provide an image of the object examined (7) onthe plane of the CCD catcher (4), the imaging being directed along acentral axis (5) of the video-endoscope (1); B—a sleeve (9) which ismoveable and covers the optical tube (10) and which allows a 90°deviated view to be obtained and a field of view to be illuminated, thesleeve (9) being coaxial with the optical tube (10), a 90° transmissiondevice of the sleeve (9) being realized with a total reflection prism(126) at its distal end (125), the axis of an exit face (131) of theprism (126) coinciding with the axis (5) of the optical tube (10) and alight source (60) consisting of a plurality of lamps (127), said lampspossessing a base portion and a emitter portion and are arranged aroundan entry face (129) of the prism (126), with axis/es (128) of the lamp/s(127) perpendicular to said entry face (129) of the prism (126); C—thesleeve (9) being capable of sliding on the optical tube (10), capable ofrotating freely upon itself and capable of being locked in a distal part(28) of the grip (3) of the video-endoscope (1); D—a mobile sleeve(107)capable of sliding on the optical tube (10) intended for examiningradiographs on a control screen; E—a compensated articulated arm (2)which carries, fixed at its distal end (122), a support (35) upon whichthe video-endoscope (1) is locked, a compensated part (36) of the arm(2) being mobile in a vertical plane and carrying, in a distal end (37)a tube (38) free to rotate upon itself about an axis (39), which remainsvertical whatever the position of the compensated part (36), a portion(40) of the compensated part (36) remaining constantly in the horizontalplane (41) whereas the distal end (37) is able to move vertically; F—anelectronic plate (123) arranged in a command box (124) equipped withcommand buttons (51), characterized in that the device comprises agenerator (93) adapted to provide an air flow (92) to cross the grip (3)of the endoscope, and the distal end (28) of the grip (3) comprisesholes a plurality of small openings (8) arranged annularly between thedistal end of said grip and said optical tube at the base of the opticaltube (10) for dispensing the air flow (92).